Crane



R. D. KAUFFMAN CRANE Dec. *13, 1938.

Filed Aug. 11, 1937 .3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 13, 1938. R, D KAUFFMAN 2,139,960

CRANE Filed Aug. l1, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 13, 1938. R. D. KAUFFMAN CRANE Filed Aug. 11, 1937 3 sheets-smeet 3 20g kazffman.

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Patented Dec.- 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEr 2,139,960 CRANE my n. Kauffman, washington, n. c.

Applicatlon'August l1, 1937, Serial No. 158,60t`

v claims. (ci. 212-69) E been found that by increasing the height of the mast a better control of the boom, with less power and strain` and wear on the cable isobtained, it has also been found that when the height of the mast is increased transportation of the crane.

from one place to another becomes diillcult due to the fact thatthe mast will not readily pass under trees, bridges and .other obstructions. L

Therefore, one object of the invention is to provide a crane having anmast which is so constructed that it may be reduced in height during moving of the crane and an adjustable upper section shifted upwardly when the crane arrives at the place of use.

Another object of the .invention is to not only provide the crane with a vertically adjustable mast but also kprovide it with a collapsible brace or post so constructed that it may be longitudinally adjusted together with the upper portion of the mast and irmly secured in its extended position.

Another object of the invention is to provide the Icrane wlthan Outrigger structure capable of being easily erected about the carriage when the crane is at the place of use and provide an auxiliary annular support greatly increasing `the radius or diameter of the eiective base about which a stii leg or bracing strut for the mast swings during use ofthe crane. It will thus be seen that the mast will be braced at a greatly increased radial distance 4from the mast and beyond' the carriage of the crane so that when an extra heavy load is lifted, tilting of the carriage will be prevented and the crane cannot turn 'Another object of the invention is to so form the outrigger that'it can be easily taken apart for transportation from one place to another and to also `permit a track forming part of the outrig- O -ger to be left about the crane and supported by grapples during traveling of the crane under its own power. It will thus be seen that it-will only4 distance instead of dismantling the entire outrigger. v

Another object ofr the invention is to provide improved means for bracing the elements constituting the Outrigger when it is assembled aboutv 6 the crane and preventing the track of the outrigger from shifting out of a position concentric tothe center pinof the cab.

Another object of the invention is to provide "a crane which is capable of liftingvery heavy 1.0v

loads Without being liable to turn over but/is of such weight that, it may be easily moved from one place to another and along roads which are restricted to vehicles and portable machinery of more than a. predetermined weight. It wm thus l5 be seen that the improved crane may be used for a greater range of work, that it may be easily and quickly moved from one place to another along roads barred to heavier `cranes no'w usually used for lifting'objects of a certain weight and 2Q that when the Outrigger is in place back tipping will be prevented as the rear portion ofthe cab just clears the track surrounding thef'carriage of i the crane and willrest thereon if the load should be dropped or the cable snaps and the crane tilts 25 rearwardly.

The invention is illustrated lin the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the crane with 30 the Outrigger track shown in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l'. `f

Figure'3 is a view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 1 and looking down upon the Outrigger 35 and the carriage of the crane.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a' sectionalfiview upon an enlarged scale taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the 40- weight 3, the base being mounted by the usual pivot il to, turn about the ring gear of the carriage 6 which has theusual tractors 1 by means of which the crane is moved from 'one place to another. A boom 8 is pivotally mounted at the front of the caband intermediate the length of so part of L5 the cab there has been provided a mast having an A-frame 9, the legs I0 of which diverge downwardly and are mounted adjacent front and rear ends of the cab. A cross bar or shaft I I extends transversely of the upper end of the A-frame and `carries a. guide pulley I2, for engagement by the cable I3. which `is wound upon the drum of the usual hoist mounted within the cab. Arms I5 are pivoted at the top of the A-frarne and at their upper ends are connected by a cross rod I6 serving as a mounting for the lower multiple pulley Il about which the cable engages, the upper multiple pulley I8 for the cable being connected with the upper or outer end of the boom in the usual manner.

The arms I5 or upper section of the mast must be supported in its raised position when the crane is in use, and in order to do so, there have been provided collapsible posts or props I9 which have their lower ends connected with the castings 29 to which the boom and the forward legs of the A-frame are connected. While the posts may be of telescoping construction, they have been illustrated as consisting of bars, each having upper and lower sections 2I and 22 and an intermediate section 23 againstopposite side faces of which angle bars 24 are detachably secured by fasteners 25 which may be bolts or other easily removable fasteners. It will thus be seen that while the upper sectionv of the mast will be supported in an. elevated position when the crane is in use, the posts may be collapsed and the upper section swung downwardly to a lowered substantially horizontal position when it is desired to lower the boom to a position in which it projects forwardly from the crane and move the crane from one place to another. The fact that the mast is provided with the upper section imparts added height to the mast which creates lessthrust upon the boom and hence less strain upon the cable. A boom of less than customary weight can, therefore, be used for lifting a load of a certain weight and a greater weight can be lifted with a cable of n a certain strength, the difference in the weight of the' load being the difference in weight between that of the lighter boom and the heavier boom customarily used. The fact that a light weight boom can be used also makes it easy to control the boom. 4When it is desired to lower the upper section of the mast, it ismerely necessary to raise the boom to such a height that tension will be removed from the post I9 and the post can then be collapsed and the mast lowered to the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. When so lowered the hinge point of the mast is changed from the top ofthe upper section to the` shaft II at the top of the lowersection or A-frame. By raising the boom to its substantially vertical position, the

upper Ysection I5 of the mast will be carried upwardly with it and the sections of the post I9 can be again secured to each other to provide a post of the proper height to support the upper secheavier than rated strength of the crane, it is dangerous to lift too great avload as too great a load is liable to cause the crane to turn over in the direction of the load or if the cable should snap and the load drop, the back lash caused by sudden releasing ofthe load is liable to cause the crane .to tilt over rearwardly. Certain cranes havebeen made with an auxiliary boom at the back of the cab which carries a counter-weight serving as means for counter-balancing the weight of the load lifted by the main boom and thus permit a light weight crane to lift a heavy load but have not been found satisfactory as the auxiliary boom projects rearwardly from the cab and prevents use of the crane in a confined space. It hasl also been found that if the cable should snap or the'load slip, the weight of the counter-weight will cause th crane to tiltirear# Awardly and turn over when the weight of the load is suddenly released. .y

In order to permit the lifting of extra heavy loads with safety this improved crane is provided with an Outrigger which extends the bearing point under full load from'a point at the front end of the tractors 'I to a point well in advance of the front' end of the tractors. Thus the diameter of .the circle over which the bearing point moves will b`e materially increased and a heavy load may be lifted without danger of the crane til-ting and turning over. illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring tothese figures it will be seen that the Outrigger consists of a circular track which rests upon the ground in encircling relation to the carriage of the'crane. This track is erected about the crane at the place where thecrane'is to be used and when erecting the track a number of bolsters 26 which are preferably wood although other materials may be used are set in place in radiating relation to the\periphery of a circle having the pivot 4 as its center. Cross beams 2l are set in place upon the vupper faces of pairs of these bolsters, as shown in Figure 3, and upon these cross beams are disposed metal I-Vlbeams which are arcuate longitudinally and when connected by the splice plates 29 form a circular bed for a circular rail `30 which is`- also l formed of arcuate sections 3l connected by splice plates 32. Referring to Figure 5 it will be seen that the sections of the rail 30 have their connected ends disposed in staggered relation to the connected ends of the H-beams soA that the rail sections will be well supported. Bolts 33 are passed through the contacting flanges of the H-beams and rail sections to rmly hold the rail in place upon the bed and prevent it from shifting out of its proper position thereon. It will thus' be seen that'the4 track may be easily and quickly erected andal'so easily taken apart when it is desired tofmove the crane fromone place to another.

It is necessary to maintain the track concentric to the pivot 4 and the ring gear 5 and, in order/to do so, there have been provided tie rods or spokes 34 which extend between the rail sections and end Aportions of the bed frame of the carriage 6 of the crane. These spokes resemble v the spokes of a bicycle wheel and upon referring This is clearly spokes extend longitudinally of the carriage from opposite ends thereof while others extend laterally of the carriage from its opposite sides, the side spokes being of greater length than the end spokes. Therefore, proper placement Aof the spokes when assembling the track will be made easy. Each spoke consists of end sections or rods connected by a turn buckle 35 and there have 75 sliaaeeo also been provided abutment nuts 38 which are welded or otherwise rmly held in set positions upon the spoke sections after the track has been initially set up. By having the nut`s firmly secured in place the proper adjustment for the spokes can be easily obtained as it is merely necessary to tighten each turn buckle until it makes contact with a cooperating abutment nut(` and the track will deilne aperfect circle having the pivot 4 as its center. l l

A carriage 31 runs up'on the track, and referring to Figures 3 and@ it will be seen that this carriage is arcuate longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the track and has a metal casing 38 in end portions of which are mounted castings or blocks 39. The castings project upwardly through the top of the casing or housing 38 and are secured to lower ends of stili-leg struts 4i] which extend diagonally between the carriage and the upper end of the upper section of the mast, as shown in Figure 1, and constitute braces for the mast. Side bars 4i'connect ends of the carriage with the forward end portion of the base 2 of the cab i of the crane. These side bars 4l are formed'of strong metal which will not be liable to be bent by strain and, together with the struts 40, maintain the carriage 3l in its proper position over the track. -The blocks 39 are mounted in the casing 38 by pins .42`

which alsopass through the side bars 43 of the trucks 44 and pivotally mount the trucks so that the wheels 45 of the trucks will be maintained in contact 'with the rail 30 as the car or carriage f moves about the track. The car follows along the track as the cabxof the crane is turned about its pivot and, together with the stiff-ieg struts,

4will act in anver'y eilicient manner to brace the mast andwcab and prevent the crane from tilting forwardly and turning over when a heavy load is lifted during-use oi' the crane. Attention is also called to the fact that Yas the cab is turned, its rear end portion follows the Atrack a very short Therefore, if the distance above the rail 30.

Acable should snap or the load slip, rearward tilting and-overturning ofv the vcrane will be prevented by the' rear en d of the rail. l e When it is desired to move the crane from che place to 4another the entire tra'ck may' be taken apart and reassembled after the crane has been moved to the new location. Instead of disassembling'the-entire track,'the rail 30 and its bed of H-be'ams may be left in lplace about the crane and only the cross beams V2'I and holsters 26 removed and transported to the newlocation. When this is to be done supporting means must be provided to prevent the weight of the railfand its bed from bending the spokes. rThe supportingl means consists of grapples '46 vwhich are,lo cated at the back of the cab and adjacent oppo-` site ends of the Aouter side wall of the car 31.

' Each of the grapples is formedas shownvin Fig'-- ure 6, andA referring to this figure it will be seen that the grapple isv formed of strongmetal and has a v-shaped hanger 41, the arms of which are formed with bearings 48 to receive pins for 'pivotaiiy connecting the grapple with mounting lugs 49 carried by the rear of the cab and end portions of the car 31. At the lower end of the hanger 4`lV each grapple is provided with an arm or stein B0 which is bent to extend laterally therefrom and carries a roller 5I for engaging under the outer vportion of the upper flanges of the H-beams. The grapples will thus serve to sup-y port the rail and its bed at diametrically oppo- \cab striking the,

f site points and remove the weight thereof from the spokes. In view of the factl that thewgrapples carry rollers, frictional binding will be prevented and if it is necessary or desirable to turn the cab while moving the crane-from one place to 'another this can be easily done.

y the crane the grapples will be swung upwardly to a raised position where they will be out of the way and secured with wire or in any other desired manner.

It 4should also be noted that use of the outrigger, removes strain fromV the pivot 4 and the rollers 52 and weight will be applied at the car 31 instead of on the rollers this being due'to the fact that upward pull exerted at the junction of the upper ends of the stiff-leg struts withthe upper end of the mast causes such a reaction through the braces I9 and 40 as to transfer stress to the car 31, thus relieving the king pin 4 and the rollers 50 of the stresses usually borne there- Aby in a crane of a conventional construction when a load'is handled.

I have, therefore, provided a crane of such construction that very heavy loads which would ordinarily require use of a great deal larger crane may be liftedv without danger of the crane ,turning `over andhave further provided ageneral utility crane which may be 'used for light work Without the outrigger or for heavy work by applying the Outrigger to it. I have/ also provided a general utility crane which will be economical as it takes the place of alight crane ,and a heavy crane and may be quickly moved from one place to another and, in addition, moved along roads over which heavy cranes are noty on the ground, and a bracing structure carried by and extending outwardly from the cab and4 traveling with .the cab while bearing upon the annular structure as the cab is turned about its axis.

2. In combination with a lifting machine including a carriage and' a cab mounted to swing about a vertical axis over the carriage, 'dempuntable means for preventing said machine fron turning over comprising `an annular track for l encircling the carriage and having `a knock-down ground-engaging supporting means, and a rigid brace extending from the cab and moving with During use of the cab while traveling along the track as the cab is turned about its axis.

3. In combination with a lifting machine including'a carriage and-a cabmounted to swing about a vertivcal axis over the carriage, demountable means for preventing said machine fromturning over when subjected to a load of excessive weigli`t comprising a ground-supported track extending in an arcuate path about the carriage outwardly therefrom in`spaced rela-tion thereto concentric to the pivot of the cab, and alrigid brace extending lfrom thecab and moving with AMthe cab while traveling along the track when the cab is turned. 'f 4..In combination with a lifting machine including a carriage and a cab -mounted to swing above a vertical axis over the carriage, demount- 'zo i,

able means for preventing said machine from turning over when subjected to the weight of a load comprising a circular track for surrounding the carriage in outward spaced relation thereto,

5 a knock-down ground-engaging supporting structurefor said track, a rigid bracing structure carriedby said cab and extending outwardly therefrom radially of the track and moving with the cab while resting upon and traveling along the track when the cab is turned about its axis, and

cluding a carriage anda cab mounted to turn about a vertical axis over the carriage, dismountl means 4for suspending the track'from the cab and the bracing structure when the ground-engag- 'ingA supporting structure Vis dismantled.

5. ,In combination with'a liftingmachine inable means for preventing said machine from turning over when lifting a load comprising a circular track\ urrounding the carriageand spaced outwardly t erefrom concentric-to the axis of the cab, ground-engaging supporting means for said track, `bracing means extending between the track and carriage for maintaining the track con- 'centric to the axis of the cab, and a bracing structure carried by said cab and extending outwardly cular track surrounding the carriage and spaced their ends`\ secured thereto, said spokes being adtrack and moving with the cab while resting upon f outwardly therefrom concentric-to the carriage andthe axis of the cab, a knock-down, groundengaging supporting means for said track, spokes extending` between the track and carriage with justable longitudinally to dispose and maintain the track concentric to the axis of the cab, and a -bracing structure carried by said cab and extending outwardlytherefrom radially of the the track and Amoving along the track as the cab is turned about its axis.

7. In combination with' a cluding a lifting machine inabout a vertical axis over the carriage, means [for resting upon said bolsters,

05 tread rail of the track and traveling along thev preventing said machine from tilting over when lifting a load comprising demountable annular track surrounding said carriage, said track consisting of ground-engagingebolsters;,cross beams resting upon said cross beams and 'ormed'of de- 'tachably connected arcuate" sections, and a tread rail mounted upon said bed-rail and formed ofv detachably connected arcuate sections, spokes extending between said tread rail and said car riage and maintaining .the track'concentric to the axis of the cab, and a bracing structure carried by said cab andextending outwardly therefrom radially of the track and resting upon the same when the cab is turned about its axis.

8.'In combination with a crane including a portable carriage having traction means at opposite sides thereofA and a cab mounted to swing about a vertical axis over the carriage and carry.-

ing a mast and a boom, demountable'means for preventing tilting of the crane comprising an annular ground-supported track encircling said crane in spaced relation to the carriage and its traction means, means fo`r maintaining said track carriage and a cab mounted to turn a circular bed-rail concentric to the carriage and the axis of the cab, and a bracing structure consisting of an arm carried by and extending forwardly from the cab, a car at the front end ofsaid arm resting upon and traveling along the track about the carriage when the cab is turned about its axis, and a strut extending between the c'ar and the upper end portion ofthe mast.

9. In combination with a lifting machine including a carriage and a cab mounted to swing aboutl a vertical axis over the carriage and carryinga mast and a boom at its front end, means for preventing-said crane from tiltingl'ver when lifting a load comprising an annular groundsupported track encircling said carriage in spaced relation thereto and he'ld concentric -to the pivot for the cab, and a bracing structure consisting of a car for traveling along said track, bars extending from ends of said car and secured-to the front end of the cab,- and stiff lleg struts extending.

upwardly from said car at an incline over the front end of thel cab andsecured at their upper ends to the upper end of said mast.

10. In combination with a lifting machine including a carriage and a cab mountedto swing about a vertical axis over the carriage and carrying a mast and a boom at its front end, means for preventing said-crane from tilting over when lifting afload comprising an annularground-supported trackencircling said carriage in spaced relation thereto and held concentric to the pivot for the cab, and a bracing structure consisting of bars extending forwardly from opposite sides 'of the f ront end of the cab, av car disposed over said trackand having a frame secured at its ends between-outer ends of said bars, blocks in said frame, trucks pivoted to said blocks Within the.

frame and extending longitudinally of lthe frame and carrying wheels resting upon said track, and stiff-leg `struts extending upwardly from said blocks at an incline over thefront of the cab and at theirupper ends secured to the upperA end of the said mast.

11. In combination with a lifting machinc'including a carriage and a cab mounted to swing about a vertical axis over the carriage and carrying a mast-and a boom at its' front` end, means for preventing said crane from tilting over when lifting a load comprising an annular ground-supported track encircling said carriage in spaced relation thereto and held concentric to the pivot'for the cab, and a bracing structure extending forwardly from the front end of the cab and having a car at its front end traveling upon said track,

va strut being providedbetween the car and tige upper end of the mast, and grapples carried by the car and the rear portion of the cab for engaging under and supporting the track for transportation with the .crane when the ground-engaging supporting means for the track is removed.

l2. In combination with a lifting machine including a carriage and a cab mounted to swing about` a vertical axisiover the ycarriage and. carrying a mast and a boom at its front end, means 'for preventing said crane from tilting over when lifting a load comprising an annular ground-supported track encircling said carriage in spaced relation thereto and held concentric to thehpivot for the cab, a bracing structure extending f orwardly from the front end of the cab and having a ,car at 'its front end traveling upon said track,

'a strut! being provided between the car and the upper end of the mast, and grapples pivoted .to the car and the rear portion ofthe cab and depending thereirom and having laterally extendabout a vertical axis over the carriage and carrying a, mast and a boom at its front end, means for preventing said crane from tilting over when lifting a, load comprising an annular ground-supported track encircling said carriage in spaced relation thereto and held concentric to the pivot for the cab, a bracing structure extending forwardly from the cab and traveling upon the track as the cab is turned and having a brace between 'its outer end and the top of the mast, and means carried by the bracing structure and the rear portion of the cab for supporting the track for transportation with the crane when the ground-engaging supporting means for the track is removed.

14. In a lifting machine, a carriage, a cab mounted to turn about a vertical axis over the carriage, a boom at the front of the cab, and a mast rising from the cab back of the boom and comprising a lower section of A-frame formation and having sets of upwardly converging front and rear legs at sides of the cab, a casting connecting upper ends of each set of legs, a cross shaft extending between the castings for the legs transversely of the cab. an upper section for the mast having side bars pivoted to the upper end of the lower section at the castings thereof and extending upwardly in alinement with the rear legs, a cross shaft extending between upper ends of the side bars of the upper section, and collapsible posts for the upper section rising from the carriage between the boom and lower ends of the front legs of the lower section at a rearward incline and having their upper ends mounted at upper ends of the side bars of the upper section.

l5. In a lifting machine, a carriage, a cab mounted to turn about a vertical .axis over the carriage, a boom at the front of the cab, a mast rising fromthe cab back of the boom and comprising a lower section of A-frame formation, an upper section having its lower end pivoted to the upper end of the lower section, a. collapsible support for the upper section rising from the carriage between the boom and the front end of the lower section at a rearward incline and having its upper end secured at the top of the upper section, said support consisting of posts each having upper and lower sections and an intermediate secl tion, and side bars disposedv at opposite sides of the post and detachably secured against side faces' of the sections thereof to rmly hold the l sections in alinement with each other. 

